most popular caliber for mule deer and elk

[CapLock]

I end up using an Encore in 300 mag for most of my big game hunting.

[locogunnut]

if your going to use one rifle for deer and elk i would have to say the 30-06 because there is sooo many different grain ammo avaible. but i myself use a 270 for deer and a 300 win mag for elk.

[buffalobo]

I voted "other"
300 WinMag for elk, lever action 30-30 or 45-70 for deer because where we hunt the deer are always close in the brush/scrub.

Voted other for the same reason. Plus I just love 30-30. Usually 30-06 for elk, most versatile round for me.

[battle_sight_zero]

308 for me. Love to shoot the 30/30 but areas where I hunt are often 200-400 yard shots. Find it to be excellent for antelopes as well. I have not hunted ELK yet but I am sure it will do its job on them if I need it too. However I did pick up a Sako A7 300WSM for that possibility as well.

[wyzardd]

I used .30-30 for years, with a scoped Remington in .257 Roberts for those rare occasions I wasn't hunting in bush. But a decade or so ago I started worrying about damaging my grandfathers old mdl 94. I'm not exactly the most coordinated individual, some may say, so I got me a Remington 700 in .308 for antelope, deer, & elk. A few years later I picked up a Ruger No1 in .300 WinMag (because with that indestructible action .257 Roberts seemed tiny. Not because .257 is underpowered for game) but that's pretty much elk only.

I haven't drawn a deer tag in a while, used to be I'd get a deer license by default and hope to draw a good elk tag. CWD thinning out our muleys? I've also heard those damn whitetails are invading... I don't know, but I sure miss venison.

[TennVol]

Currently, a Sako chambered in .300 WSM is my mulie/elk rifle.

[theGinsue]

Okay, I want to take this thread up a notch.

What would everyone consider as the best caliber for not only deer and elk, but for bear - I'm talking both blacks and browns (full sized Grizzleys), as well as Moose.

Is there a caliber that you'd recommend that would cover all of these options without bein too much on one end or too little on the other?

Discuss.

[theGinsue]

What, nothing?

How about if I word it like this:
What do you think is the best caliber for long range elk deer and bear hunting?

What if you were limited to these calibers: .300, .338 or .270 (Yes, Win Mag & WSM can be included)?

[BigBear]

Bear?... hey.....

I would say .338 to make sure it STAYS down. Nothing more alarming than a pissed off bear... I should know. HAHA.

[cowboykjohnson]

.300 win mag works for everything, 165-180 gr for deer, 180 gr for elk and bear, and 220gr for moose and caribou.